Hollywood, Beware: Apple's Content Harvest... Has Begun

Don’t let media consolidation, MoviePass drama or the President’s Twitter account distract you from one of the biggest stories in Hollywood this summer: the quiet moves Apple is making to do to movies and TV shows what it once did to cell phones.

The tech monolith has ordered almost 20 original shows, a stack of poached and pedigreed executives, A-list collaborators across genres and a reported plan to enter the Oscar race — all to set to start rolling out next year.

Last week saw a flurry of announcements for scripted series with powerhouse brands like Sesame Workshop. Oprah Winfrey also has an overall deal. Apple’s projects will inhabit what insiders predict will be a video platform in the vein of the company’s music streaming service.

Also Read: Aaron Paul, Ron Cephas Jones Round Out Cast of Apple's 'Are You Sleeping'

The company just added Layne Eskridge, a force behind shows like “Ozark” at rival Netflix, to work as a creative executive under Apple Worldwide Video heads Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht. They were plucked from Sony, and started Apple’s $1 billion content shopping spree last June.

But Apple’s precise plans remain a mystery to many in the Hollywood establishment, according to producers, agents and Apple competitors who spoke to TheWrap.

“There’s a ‘Great and Powerful Oz’ kind of vibe about it,” said one top talent manager and content packager, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “They’re kind of elusive, like who is running the thing?”

Tucked away in an anonymous Culver City office, you’ll find Van Amburg and Erlicht with colleagues Angélica Guerra in Latin American programming and Kim Rozenfeld in unscripted, both transplants from Sony Pictures Television. There’s also development chief Matt Cherniss (formerly WGN and Tribune Studios), international lead Morgan Wandell and children’s programming lead Tara Sorensen (both came from Amazon), production head Carol Trussell, Philip Matthys in business affairs (decamped from Hulu) and communications exec Rita Cooper Lee.

But the manager said Hollywood talent loves Apple for paying their asking prices, and being eager to compete.

“They’re paying real quotes and not trying to squeeze us for less and less the way the studios are on the network side. They’re formidable buyers,” the manager said.

Some old-school content makers and distributors are anxious about how their content will fare on Apple TV and in the film and TV stores on iTunes when the company can give priority to its own slate.

Also Read: JJ Abrams, Sara Bareilles Dramedy Gets Series Order at Apple

“One of the terrifying things is how easy it will be for Apple to promote their own stuff. They already have a pretty remarkable infrastructure,” said one film studio executive, pointing out that devices like the Apple TV exist solely to organize and streamline content from third parties.

For now.

“When they get their ‘Orange is the New Black’ or their ‘Transparent,’ people are going to show up. Eighty-five million people have an iPhone,” said the executive.

That’s a very slight understatement: iPhone users hit a record high if 85.8 million in April 2017. Apple TV is also accessible on TVs, desktops, laptops and tablets. And you can stream video on your Apple Watch. In this year’s first quarter, Apple estimated that 1.3 billion of its devices were active and installed around the world.

Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that Apple was in negotiations to distribute an animated film from Irish studio Cartoon Saloon, and give it, at minimum, a qualifying theatrical release for Oscar consideration.

“[Apple’s] annual spend likely moving toward $2 billion,” BTIG research analyst Rich Greenfield wrote to clients. He also predicted a new Apple video service will rollout by mid-2019, though what its fee structure will be and how it might be connected with Apple’s streaming music service are big lingering questions.

Here’s what Apple’s first content harvest promises:

james corden mariah carey carpool karaoke

Mariah Carey and James Corden on the Apple original series “Carpool Karaoke”

-A few Reese Witherspoon’s projects, clocking a big win for her Hello Sunshine banner. At the moment, Witherspoon is executive producing a thriller series about true crime podcasts starring Octavia Spencer and Lizzy Caplan called “Are You Sleeping”; a currently untitled morning show drama that she’s both producing and starring in with Jennifer Aniston; and a comedy based on Curtis Sittenfield’s short stories, which was put on hold Tuesday after lead Kristen Wiig exited the project due to scheduling conflicts with “Wonder Woman: 1984.”

-Oprah. Two weeks ago, the queen of her own media empire struck an overall content deal that will have her produce original content for her widespread following. She will continue to serve as CEO of OWN, the TV network she founded in 2011.

(The partnership between Winfrey and Apple — which has thus far only set an agreement with Kerry Ehrin, the veteran showrunner who will helm the company’s upcoming Jennifer Aniston-Reese Witherspoon morning show drama — represents a potential threat to Netflix, Amazon and Hulu in the overall-deal arena.)

-Animation. Apple has a musical series from Josh Gad called “Central Park,” with the voice actor roster Gad, Leslie Odom Jr., Titus Burgess, Kristen Bell, Stanley Tucci, Daveed Diggs and Kathryn Hahn.

-Comedy. Apple has ordered “Little Voice,” a “love letter to the musicality of New York,” from J.J. Abrams and Sara Bareilles; and “Dickinson,” a comedy starring Hailee Steinfeld as the titular young author.

-Children’s programming. Apple’s projects include a multi-series order to Sesame Workshop for live-action, animated and puppet series. (HBO still has”Sesame Street.”)

-There’s also the docu-series “Home” from director Matt Tyrnaur, which offers a look inside the world’s most innovative abodes. And Apple is rebooting Steven Spielberg’s “Amazing Stories,” to be executive produced by Spielberg and showrun by “Once Upon a Time” vets Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz.

-“Little America,” a show based on true, heartfelt immigrant stories from Oscar-nominated “The Big Sick” writers Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon.

-Short-form news. Apple just landed the international series “Calls,” with a 10-episode order for a new English adaptation of Timothée Hochet’s French hit, co-produced by CANAL+.

Drama. The lineup includes Steven Knight’s “See,” an epic, world-building drama set in the future; an untitled project from “La La Land” director Damien Chazelle; a psychological thriller from M. Night Shyamalan; an untitled space drama from Ronald D. Moore; and a series about the real-life story of 11-year-old reporter Hilde Lysiak.

And those are just the shows that have been ordered to series, as three are currently in development: “Foundation,” a drama based on Isaac Asimov’s novel series from David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman; “Shantaram,” an international drama series based on the best-selling novel of the same name; and “Swagger,” a basketball-themed drama series in development from NBA star Kevin Durant.

And let’s not forget their inaugural originals “Planet of the Apps” and James Corden’s “Carpool Karaoke.” Both are currently available via Apple Music.

Apple TV+: Here Are All the Original Shows in the Works for Apple's Streaming Service (Photos)

Apple TV+ finally launches on Friday with four original series, some kids' programming and a little non-fiction content. But Apple's forthcoming streaming service, which is the tech giant's attempt to compete with the likes of Netflix and Amazon, will begin to roll out even more programs in the coming months from star players like M. Night Shyamalan and Octavia Spencer. TheWrap has rounded up all the shows that have been set for the streaming service so far, or are currently in development, so you know what you'll get if you subscribe for $4.99/month. We've also noted which series will be available with the Nov. 1 launch.

Also Read: Apple TV+: How a Tech Company Built a Streaming Service From Scratch by Going All-In With Originals
Apple TV+
“The Morning Show” Taking an inside look at the dark side of morning TV, Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston executive produce and star in the drama series. Witherspoon comes to this off her hit HBO drama “Big Little Lies” and Aniston returns to TV in a major role for the first time since her hit sitcom “Friends” went off the air. Steve Carell will also star on the series from Kerry Ehrin. (Available at launch)
Apple TV+
“Dickinson” This coming-of-age comedy series will star Hailee Steinfeld as Emily Dickinson, exploring the constraints of society, gender, and family that she experienced as a budding writer. The show is written by Alena Smith and directed by David Gordon Green. (Available at launch)
Apple TV+
“Ghostwriter" A reinvention of the beloved original series, follows four kids who are brought together by a mysterious ghost in a neighborhood bookstore, and must team up to release fictional characters from works of literature. (Available at launch)
Apple TV+
“See” Francis Lawrence, best-known for directing "Red Sparrow" and the final three "Hunger Games" films, will direct and produce this drama written by Steven Knight and starring Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard. The sci-fi series is set in a future where humans are born blind. (Available at launch)
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“For All Mankind” "Outlander" and "Battlestar Galactica" showrunner Ronald D. Moore created and will write and produce the science fiction drama, premised on the idea that the Space Race of the Cold War never ended. He co-created the series with “Fargo” executive producers Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi. (Available at launch)
Apple TV+
“Helpsters” The first series set up as part of Sesame Workshop’s partnership with Apple, the show stars Cody and a team of vibrant monsters who love to help solve problems. It all starts with a plan. (Available at launch)
Apple TV+
"Snoopy in Space" A new original from Peanuts Worldwide and DHX Media, takes viewers on a journey with Snoopy as he follows his dreams to become an astronaut. Together, Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts crew take command of the International Space Station and explore the moon and beyond. (Available at launch)
Apple TV+
Oprah Winfrey docuseries As part of Oprah's multi-year content deal with Apple, she revealed she's working on a documentary called "Toxic Labor" and a multi-part untitled series about mental health. She is also bringing back her book club as a show, "Oprah's Book Club." ("Oprah's Book Club" will be available at launch)
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“Servant” "Sixth Sense" and "Glass" director M. Night Shyamalan will executive produce this psychological thriller, with Tony Basgallop writing. Lauren Ambrose and Rupert Grint star as a young couple who hire a nanny (Nell Tiger Free) to care for their newborn. (Premiering Nov. 28)
Apple TV+
“Truth Be Told” Based on Kathleen Barber’s novel of the same name, the series centers on investigative reporter Poppy Parnell (Octavia Spencer) as she follows an old murder case through her podcast, and will explore America's obsession with true-crime podcasts. Aaron Paul, Lizzy Caplan, Elizabeth Perkins and Mekhi Phifer also star, with Reese Witherspoon executive producing. Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping and Kristen Campo from Chernin Entertainment are also set to serve as executive producers. (Premiering Dec. 6)
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“Amazing Stories” Steven Spielberg will executive produce the revival of “Amazing Stories,” the science fiction and horror anthology he co-created for NBC that ran for two seasons in the 1980s. After some behind-the-scenes shakeups, including the departure of original showrunner Bryan Fuller, "Once Upon a Time" creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz signed on to run the reboot.
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“Calls” The new, short-form English adaptation of creator Timothée Hochet’s French series will take on an innovative form of storytelling, utilizing real-life audio sources and minimal visuals.
Canal+ Group
“Defending Jacob” Described as a gripping, character-driven thriller based on the 2012 novel by William Landay, “Defending Jacob” stars Chris Evans, with “Planet of the Apes” screenwriter Mark Bomback to serve as showrunner.
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“Home Before Dark” The mystery series follows a girl who moves from Brooklyn to a small lakeside town, and subsequently uncovers a cold case that residents attempted to bury. The project was inspired by the real-life story of Hilde Lysiak, a young investigative reporter who exposed a murder in her hometown of Selinsgrove, PA, garnering national and international attention. Brooklynn Prince and Jim Sturgess will star.
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"My Glory Was I Had Such Friends" Jennifer Garner is set to star in the J.J. Abrams-produced series based on Amy Silverstein's 2017 memoir about an extraordinary group of women who supported Silverstein as she waited for a second life-saving heart transplant.
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“Pachinko” An eight-episode adaptation of the 2017 bestseller by Min Jin Lee, Apple’s “epic in scope” adaptation of “Pachinko” will be set in Korea, Japan and America. “The Terror” alum Soo Hugh will serve as showrunner.
Apple
“Foundation” Based on Isaac Asimov’s novel series of the same name, this series stars Jared Harris and Lee Pace and tracks the future history of the human race during and after the decline and fall of a galaxy-spanning empire. David S. Goyer serves as showrunner.
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“Central Park” Josh Gad and Loren Bouchard are set to produce this animated musical series about a family of caretakers who live and work in -- and end up saving -- Central Park. The voice cast includes Gad, “Frozen” star Kristen Bell, and “Hamilton's” Daveed Diggs and Leslie Odom Jr.
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“Home” The 10-episode docuseries centers on innovative homes around the world as well as the people who built them. Matt Tyrnauer directs and serves as one of the executive producers.
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“Little America” This show tells the stories of immigrants in America, drawing from true stories featured in Epic Magazine. The show will be written and executive produced by Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, the husband-and-wife team behind the hit romantic comedy “The Big Sick,” which hit theaters in the summer of 2017 to critical and commercial success.
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“Little Voice” The dramedy featuring original music from Sara Bareilles focuses on finding your authentic voice in your early 20s and is inspired by the diverse musicality of New York. It is produced by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.
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“Mythic Quest” Co-created by “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” duo Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day will star McElhenney as the head of a video game development studio. F. Murray Abraham, Imani Hakim, David Hornsby and Danny Pudi also star.
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"Shantaram" An international drama series based on Gregory David Robert's novel, "Shantaram" stars Charlie Hunnam as Lin, a man who has escaped an Australian prison and carves out a new life in Bombay. The series is written and executive produced by Eric Warren Singer.
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Untitled Brie Larson project Based on the memoir by Amaryllis Fox titled “Life Undercover,” the untitled series will star Brie Larson as a young woman recruited to join the CIA. “Animal Kingdom” writer and executive producer Megan Martin is in talks to write and executive produce the series from Medias Res.
Photographed for TheWrap by Patrick Fraser
Untitled Curtis Sittenfeld project Inspired by Curtis Sittenfeld's short story collection "You Think It, I’ll Say It.” Colleen McGuinness serves as showrunner, while Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter serve as executive producers. "Saturday Night Live" alum Kristen Wiig was originally attached to star but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.
Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Untitled Damien Chazelle project Damien Chazelle, who became the youngest person ever to nab the Academy Award for Best Director when he won for “La La Land," will write, direct, and produce a one-hour drama for Apple, alongside executive producers Jordan Horowitz and Frank Berger.
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"Time Bandits" Taika Waititi is developing an adaptation of Terry Gilliam’s 1981 film, “Time Bandits” for Apple. Waititi will co-write and direct the pilot for the potential series, which is being co-produced by Anonymous Content, Paramount Television and MRC. He also will serve as executive producer alongside Gilliam and producer Dan Halsted.
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"Mr. Corman" Joseph Gordon-Levitt is set to write, direct, executive produce and star on “Mr. Corman,” a dramedy series in development at Apple TV+. The show, which hails from A24 and Gordon-Levitt’s HitRECord banner, follows the life of a public schoolteacher (Gordon-Levitt) in California’s San Fernando Valley.
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"Mosquito Coast" Justin Theroux will star in this series based on the 1981 novel by his uncle, novelist Paul Theroux. The show, which has been ordered to series, follows an idealist who uproots his family to Latin America. “Luther” creator Neil Cross will co-write the first episode with Tom Bissell and serve as showrunner on the series.
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"Swagger" “Black Panther” and “Us” star Winston Duke leads this basketball drama from NBA superstar Kevin Durant. Duke will star as Ike, a youth basketball coach and former star player. The series went into production this month.
TheWrap
"Lisey's Story" Clive Owen and Julianne Moore will star in this limited series from Stephen King and J.J. Abrams. Based on King's best-selling 2006 novel, the deeply personal thriller follows Lisey (Moore) two years after the death of her husband. A series of events causes her to begin facing amazing realities about her husband that she had repressed and forgotten.
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"Masters of Air" This limited World War II drama series comes from Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg and will be the first series produced in-house by Apple. The show is based the book of the same name by Donald L. Miller and follows the true, deeply personal story of the American bomber boys in World War II who brought the war to Hitler’s doorstep. It is the third series in Spielberg and Hank’s “WWII saga,” following “Band of Brothers” and “The Pacific,” both of which aired on HBO.
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"Ted Lasso" Jason Sudeikis is bringing back his clueless football coach character Ted Lasso for a new series at Apple TV+. “Ted Lasso” — named for the character Sudeikis first originated on NBC during the networks Premier League coverage — stars the “Saturday Night Live” alum as an idealistic all-American football coach hired to manage an English football club, despite having no soccer coaching experience at all. In addition to starring, Sudeikis will serve writer and executive producer on the comedy, which has been given a series order.
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"El Gato Negro" adaptation Robert Rodriguez and Diego Boneta are adapting Mexican comic book “El Gato Negro” into a TV series for Apple. The MGM Television-produced project, which is in the early stages of development at the forthcoming streaming service, would be directed and executive produced by Rodriguez and star Boneta, who would also executive produce. “Supergirl” writer Eric Carrasco is writing the script, with Joel Novoa set as a co-producer for the potential series.
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Tech giant’s attempt to compete in SVOD space launched Friday

Apple TV+ finally launches on Friday with four original series, some kids' programming and a little non-fiction content. But Apple's forthcoming streaming service, which is the tech giant's attempt to compete with the likes of Netflix and Amazon, will begin to roll out even more programs in the coming months from star players like M. Night Shyamalan and Octavia Spencer. TheWrap has rounded up all the shows that have been set for the streaming service so far, or are currently in development, so you know what you'll get if you subscribe for $4.99/month. We've also noted which series will be available with the Nov. 1 launch.

Also Read: Apple TV+: How a Tech Company Built a Streaming Service From Scratch by Going All-In With Originals

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